Thursday, November 17. 2016

Here in the UK, it can be difficult to decide exactly how to approach dental care. With a confusing mixture of NHS funded and private dentists, exclusions for some and charges for others, choosing a dentist raises a lot of questions. As the NHS has been experiencing challenging finical times alongside a growing interest in whiter smiles, private dentists have begun to become more and more popular.

The situation is made more complex due to the fact that NHS dentists, unlike emergency or GP NHS services, charge a fee. While subsidised, the fact that private dentists and dental insurance are becoming cheaper means that stepping outside the health service may no longer only be for the wealthy.

These costs are the primary difference between the two styles of dental care. NHS dentists are restricted in what they can charge for procedures, separated into three bands. Band 1 includes things like check-ups, X-rays, minor filling corrections and other minor dental procedures and is currently £18.80. Band 2 includes all of the previous band 1 treatments alongside fillings, root canals, tooth extractions and is charged at £51.30. Band 3 covers both previous bands and major work such as crowns and dentures and is currently £222.50.

These costs cover all work performed over a 2-month period, meaning that any return visits during this time will be free. NHS dentists are also limited to essential work and so excludes any cosmetic work. These fees can also be wavered for patients who fit certain criteria, such as being under 18, pregnant or in receipt of income support.

Private costs, on the other hand, vary considerably between location as no restrictions are placed on their prices. Dental experts suggest investigating a number of different practices, but overall costs will be higher. Surprisingly, however, the difference is often slight in what is perceived as a major upgrade in quality. Examinations, which would fit into band 1 for £18.80, are around £25-£40 privately while major work such as a band 3 denture fitting could only differ by £25. Birchgrove Dental Practice Cardiff only charge £31.50 for a routine examination at the time of writing. Private Dentists in Cardiff will generally be cheaper than in more expensive areas such as London or the South East of England.

However, these are simply estimates. The most popular way to pay for private dentists is via an insurance plan. These plans cover part or all of treatment costs and start at around £25 per month. Some private dentists will offer their own dental plans that are cheaper, sometimes as low as £12.50 a month, but these will only be accepted at a single practice.

After price, quality is the main difference that people perceive between private and NHS dentists. NHS dentists receive fairly low support from the government and are restricted in what they can charge, meaning that the dental equipment they can afford will be more basic in function. As private dentists are also the only ones to offer cosmetic treatments, and with this kind of work increasing in popularity by 20% over the last four years, they will be better equipped in general due to a more profitable market.

Availability is another concern for many people. There has been a perception in recent years that a NHS dentist is hard to find, and while some have stopped accepting new patients, there are websites that offer a list of nearby accepting practices. It is also important to note that individuals do not need to be registered to any one practice and so can change dentists at will. They will not, however, take emergency cases and patients generally go private in these circumstances. Private dentists often have appointments available within 24 hours due to their lower patient count.